The Best Midfielders In World Football Ranked As Of 2024

The best midfielders in world football influence games through their passes, assists, recoveries, tackles and recoveries. These players play specific roles in the game, from orchestrating attacks and protecting the defence to transitioning from defence to attack. Each position has a standout player whose unique qualities have earned them global recognition.

To curate this list of the best midfielders in the world in 2024, we considered factors including completed passes, assists and a player’s influence on the team. To provide the most accurate information, we used credible sources, including ESPN, Footy Stats and FBREF. Here is a list of the top midfielders in the world.

Best midfielders in world football in 2024

In football, the midfield is crucial in determining the outcome of a game. A quality set of players seamlessly connects the defence and offence. Consequently, the best teams invest in world-class midfielders. Find out more about the top-rated midfielders of 2024.

1. Rodri

• Full name: Rodrigo Hernández Cascante
• Club: Manchester City
• Nationality: Spanish
• Date of birth: 22 June 1996
• Place of birth: Madrid, Spain

Rodri is one of the best midfielders in soccer in 2024. In the 2023/24 season, he topped several metrics in the Premier League, including touches, passes completed, progressive passes, and ball carries. The Spanish midfielder made 3988 touches, the highest in Europe, 3633 passes, 376 progressive passes, and 2513 ball carries.

His performance has helped Manchester City have a formidable midfield and win titles. Rodri has four Premier League titles and a Champions League. His influence extends to the Spanish national team. He was named the Player of the Tournament after Spain won the 2024 European Championship in Germany.

2. Jude Bellingham

• Full name: Jude Victor Bellingham
• Club: Real Madrid
• Nationality: English
• Date of birth: 29 June 2003
• Place of birth: Stourbridge, England

The English midfielder hit the ground running at the Bernabeu after signing a six-year contract in 2023. He finished his first season in Spain with 26 goals in all competitions, 19 in La Liga, four in the Champions League and two in the UEFA Euro Championship.

Jude Bellingham completed 1363 passes and made 1897 touches. Bellingham was named the Real Madrid Player of the Season for a memorable debut campaign. Furthermore, he won the La Liga and Champions League titles.

3. Martin Ødegaard

• Full name: Martin Ødegaard
• Club: Arsenal
• Nationality: Norwegian
• Date of birth: 17 December 1998
• Place of birth: Drammen, Norway

Ødegaard ranks highly among attacking midfielders in different metrics. He is in the 98th percentile on progressive passes, 99th percentile on touches in the penalty area and the 94th percentile in the progressive passes received; these are passes that move the ball towards the opponent’s goal line. Among Premier League midfielders, he ranks third with the most assists with 10. Despite his influence, Arsenal finished second in the league.

4. Granit Xhaka

• Full name: Granit Xhaka
• Club: Bayer Leverkusen
• Nationality: Swiss
• Date of birth: 27 September 1992
• Place of birth: Basel, Switzerland

The Swiss was one of the signings of the 2023/24 season. He won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen in his first season and the numbers show his influence in midfield. Xhaka made 3229 passes. Out of those, he made 2977 successful passes.

His pass completion rate was 92.20%, demonstrating his influence in distributing the ball throughout midfield. The midfielder played 60 games, 33 in the Bundesliga, 11 in the Europa League and 6 in the DFB Pokal.

5. Nicolo Barella

• Full name: Nicolò Barella Cavaliere OMRI
• Club: Inter Milan
• Nationality: Italian
• Date of birth: 7 February 1997
• Place of birth: Cagliari, Italy

Barella has the fifth most completed passes in the Serie A in the 2023/24 season. He made 2093 passes with 1181 completed. The Italian has been a key player for Inter Milan. He played 37 games in the league and eight Champions League games. Barella contributed four goals and four assists.

6. Warren Zaire-Emery

• Full name: Warren Zaire-Emery
• Club: Paris Saint Germain
• Nationality: French
• Date of birth: 8 March 2006
• Place of birth: Montreuil, France

Warren is one of the best cms in the world in 2024. Even at his age, he displays maturity in midfield and has recorded impressive stats. He played 26 games in Ligue 1, 11 in the Champions League and five in the Coupe de France. Among other central midfielders, Zaire-Emery ranked ninth in assists with three. The youngster receives praise for his ball-playing abilities.

7. Toni Kroos

• Full name: Toni Kroos
• Club: Retired
• Nationality: German
• Date of birth: 4 January 1990
• Place of birth: Greifswald, Germany

Kroos is considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He played his final yet most productive season in the 2023/24 campaign. He topped La Liga’s pass completion rate with 95%. The German was known for his passing accuracy, breaking defensive lines and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

That said, Kroos played 33 games in La Liga, scored a goal assisted eight, and played in 12 UEFA Champions League. He won both and finished his career on a high.

8. Pedri

• Full name: Pedro González López
• Club: Barcelona
• Nationality: Spanish
• Date of birth: 25 November 2002
• Place of birth: Bajamar, Spain

Pedri’s performance in different areas of the field shows why he is one of the best midfielders of 2024. His defensive work is impressive. He is in the 89th percentile on blocks and 61st percentile in tackles. His attacking numbers are higher.

The Spaniard has an 86.5% pass completion rate and other areas of his game - progressive passes and carries all in the 90th percentile, meaning he is better than 90% of other players in the same position.

9. Kevin De Bruyne

• Full name: Kevin De Bruyne
• Club: Manchester City
• Nationality: Belgian
• Date of birth: 28 June 1991
• Place of birth: Drongen, Belgium

Kevin de Bruyne is one of the most famous midfielders in soccer, known for his crisp passing and curling crosses. The Belgian missed about five months of the 2023/24 season through a hamstring injury but still got 10 assists.

He has been influential in Manchester City’s success under Pep Guardiola, demonstrated by winning two Player of the Season awards in the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons. De Bruyne has the second-highest assists in the Premier League with 112, behind Ryan Giggs.

10. Jamal Musiala

• Full name: Jamal Musiala
• Club: Bayern Munich
• Nationality: German
• Place of birth: Stuttgart, Germany
• Date of birth: 26 February 2003

Jamal Musiala contributed to 15 goals for Bayern Munich, the second-highest behind Harry Kane. The player made 58 shots, the third-most in his team, showing his desire to score. His defensive abilities are impressive. In interceptions, he is in the 95th percentile.

In tackles, he lies in the 80th percentile. His overall contribution earns him a place in the best midfielders categories and he's expected to continue his ascendancy in the game.

11. Luka Modric

• Full name: Luka Modrić
• Club: Real Madrid
• Nationality: Croatian
• Place of birth: 9 September 1985
• Date of birth: Zadar, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia

Luka Modric is nearing the end of his career but remains one of the best midfielders in the world. He played 32 La Liga matches for the Los Blancos and provided six assists. The Croatian assists, passing, and chance creation stats are above the 90th percentile, reflecting his productivity and creativity in Madrid's midfield. His influence extends to the Croatian national team, which he led to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final. After a stellar year, he was awarded the Ballon d'Or 2018.

Frequently asked questions

1. Who is the best midfielder overall? Rodri is the best midfielder overall. He has been influential in Manchester City’s title-winning seasons, including in 2023 when they won the treble.
2. Who is the best-scoring midfielder in the Premier League? Frank Lampard is the best-scoring midfielder in the Premier League. He scored 177 goals throughout his career.
3. Which midfielder has the most assists in the Premier League this season? Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins provided the most assists (13) in the Premier League in 2023/24.
4. Has a midfielder ever won the Premier League Golden Boot? Cristiano Ronaldo is the only Premier League midfielder to win a Golden Boot.
5. Who is the highest-scoring midfielder in the Premier League season? Matthew Le Tissier scored the most goals by a midfielder in the Premier League in a single season with 25.
6. Has a midfielder ever scored a hat trick in the Premier League? Yes, in fact, Frank Lampard scored the most hat-tricks in the Premier League with three. That said, Phil Phoden and Son-Heung Ming also have three hat-tricks, the most among active players.
7. Is Pedri one of the best of the best midfielders? Yes, Pedri is one of the best midfielders in the world.
8. What is meant by midfield? A midfielder is a player who occupies the central position in football.

Wrapping up

The best midfielders in world football influence their team’s overall performance. If they play a defensive role, they disrupt the opposition’s attacks. In an attacking role, they create goal-scoring opportunities. In central midfield, they control the tempo of the game. The players in this list accomplish all these roles well.

Tuko.co.ke shared an article on Jude Bellingham’s girlfriend, Laura Celia Valk. The English footballer is one of the best players right now. His rising status is drawing considerable interest in his personal life. Equally, Laura is a public figure and reportedly told her colleagues she was completely smitten with Jude. Where did they meet? Find out in the article.

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Left to Right: Granit Xhaka runs with the ball. Luka Modric during the UEFA Super Cup 2024. Kevin De Bruyne City in the Premier League.

Left: Rodri with the ball against Nottingham Forest. Right: Rodri is challenged by Joao Palhinha of Fulham (obscured) during a Premier League match.

Left: Jude Bellingham racing with the ball during the UEFA Super Cup 2024. Right: Bellingham during a training session at National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.